FAQ

Do I need my vets permission before you can treat my animal?Yes – it is a legal requirement for anyone treating any animal to have vets permission. This includes massage therapists, chiropractors, osteopaths, body workers – everyone. It is also to ensure your animal receives the best treatment by having professionals work together to look after your animal. Your vet receives a report on the physiotherapy your animal receives and the progress through treatment. Some vets will give permission without seeing your animal – depends on what’s wrong so have a chat with them.
You can download a vet consent form from the Physio prices pageand ask your vet to sign it or I can fax your vet a consent form after you have spoken to your vet and to me.

Do you travel to me?Yes we travel to your home or yard. We find those places to be where your animal is most relaxed and happy and this helps the physiotherapy treatments to work. Or you can come to one of the clinics – see Physio venues page for venues.

Will my animal’s insurance pay for physiotherapy?Insurance: Most pet insurers cover physiotherapy treatment undertaken by an ACPAT Veterinary Physiotherapist. You should check with your insurance company directly prior to starting treatment to ensure that the costs will be met. You will pay the physiotherapist at each session, she will issue you with a receipt which you can keep to send along with a claim form to your pet insurance company. Some insurance companies require the physiotherapist to fill in the back of / vet part of the form and some still prefer the vet to complete this section so please check with your insurance company their preference else it could delay them paying you back your physiotherapy costs. Please note come companies have limits on cost and/or the number of treatments of physiotherapy they will refund you for, so please check the small print or directly with your insurance company.

Why should I choose a Chartered Physiotherapist?Chartered Physiotherapists have had extensive training in the human physiotherapy field and are regulated by the CSP and HCPC to provide a high standard of therapy. We then do further masters level training to qualify as a Veterinary Physiotherapist and we are regulated to maintain a high standard of work and continued education by the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Therapy(ACPAT). Physiotherapists are experts in mobilising joints, muscles, ligaments and tendons to help provide pain relief and restore normal function. We are trained in neurological issues and rehabilitation and athletic performance management. Anyone can call themselves an Animal or Veterinary Physiotherapist – by choosing to use a Chartered Physiotherapist you can be sure we have excellent training and will take good care of your animal.

What animals do you treat?Most of our work is with horse, dogs and cats and of course people. Other animals that can be treated include rabbits, sheep, goats, llama, cows.

How much do you charge?Please see the prices page. Travel charges can be split between all clients in one place or we can adjust travel charges if your appointment fits in to when we are local to you visiting another client. Physio prices page link

How do I pay you? You will pay the physiotherapist by cash or cheque on the day she treats your animal. If you are claiming from insurance then she will give you a receipt to send through the claim to your insurance.

Is physio like massage?Physiotherapy treatment may include massage techniques but as a Chartered Physiotherapist we have many therapy tools both using and not using our hands. Hands on treatment includes myofascial release, joint mobilisation, stretching, releasing stiff joints, trigger point therapy as well as others. Hands off treatments include electrotherapy such as therapeutic laser and pulsed magnetic therapy and therapeutic exercises. Rehabilitation programs for you to follow at home are also an important part of physiotherapy as is the management of the animal and their environment.

How many treatments will I or my animal need?Every case needs an assessment before a program of treatment can be created. After the physio has assessed she will let you know the likely number of treatments needed to resolve the issues I find. Some issues can be sorted in one go but most things related to injury or an operation require from 3 to 10 treatments. Long term conditions or performance management require regular treatments which could be from every 2 weeks to every 2 months. All can be adapted to you and your circumstances so speak to the physio about the options.

Can you put my horse’s back or pelvis back in when it’s “out”?“out” is a word that is used to explain that a joint is not moving through it’s full range or not moving smoothly. This may be caused by muscle spasm, pain or joint stiffness. “out” does not mean the joint is out of it’s joint otherwise it would be dislocated and then the animal would be unable to move. Physios treat joints as well as muscles and will alleviate these types of problems and then prescribe an exercise that will help to maintain this good movement.

Qualifications

Nycky Edleston and Leanne Baker are qualified
Chartered Physiotherapist and Veterinary Physiotherapists,
a member of ACPAT, RAMP and the CSP.

Newletters

Sport and working dogs

Physiotherapy fine tunes a dogs performance and picks up on early signs of body issues. Book an MOT for your Sport/Work dog to make sure your dog is in top condition for competition.
See Sporting Dogs webpage for our conditioning program that uses computer gait analysis to assess how your dog moves and creates a bespoke conditioning program for your athlete.

Horse injury – rehabilitation

If your horse has been out of work then visit my Injury Rehabilitation page to see how Physio rehab can really help the recovery and return back to work of your horse.

What is Proprioception

Proprioception is a combination of balance, joint position sense, and body awareness. Part of this is derived from sensory apparatus within the muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints. When any of these areas are damaged, in pain or recovering from injury/surgery, the sensory apparatus are damaged and need proprioceptive stimulation to recover and do their job again. Physiotherapy treatment works to gain proprioception. Good proprioception leads to correct use of limb and body. Athletes benefit from fine tuning proprioception to help prevent injury.